All Matching and How Do I Repair the Finish on the Stock

I am in the process of cleaning and conserving a CE44 Kar98k for a friend who just acquired it from a private collection. Upon first review, it appeared to be all numbers matching and may have an original sling (I was hoping someone cold confirm that since I know nothing about slings). The rifle has been sitting in rack for many years and the sides of the rack have worn away part of the finish on the stock (see photo).

All of the visible numbers matched. Once the rifle was dismantled, all of the numbers inside matched except for the number located on the inside of the front (small) wooden handguard. Everything shows "970" or "70" except this handguard which has "9445" stamped in it. Should this part be numbered "970" also?

How can I determine if the sling is original (I included a photo of the buckle)? Can anyone provide a recommendation to repair the damaged finish on the stock?

Thank you!

Here are some additional photos -

I recently got a deal on two rifles that need their stocks refinished so I'm in the same boat, never having refinished a stock and in the process of learning how. There are several videos on YouTube and books available detailing the process. One author recommends spraying the furniture with Easy Off oven cleaner, letting it sit for about 15 minutes and washing it off with water before it dries. This will remove all of the original finish apparently quite well and after a light pass of 0000 steel wool or fine sandpaper the stock will be ready for refinishing. Not having tried this method yet I can't vouch for its efficacy but I'm going to give it a shot. I'm starting to dabble a little in gunsmithing and recently cleaned, polished, and reblued a set of protector ears for the foresight of my C.L.L.E. They were in rough shape when they arrived from the seller and now they look like they're brand new, matching the finish of the rifle. I know some experienced gunsmiths are probably finding our baby steps amusing but Hey! you've got to start somewhere, right?

I would be extremely cautious about stripping and refinishing a stock. I would be more inclined to repair damage than to do a full refinish. Or even just leave it alone.

Nice rifle! I too need to work on a k98 stock, I would try some stripper on a cloth in a small area where the finish is already bad. Just dont sand it or brush it hard, you dont want to lose the stamps. Oil it good when your done. Not sure what products work best but I have seen k98 stocks restored nice with no issues.

Yes as far as I know the handguard should be numbered to the gun, or not at all, I would have to dig out a couple books. But the Sling looks like an orignal, I have a couple from same maker on some rifles that were vet bring backs.

I have no plan to strip the stock since the rest of the gun is in such great original condition. I'm just hoping to restore that "worn" area and blend it back in with the original finish.

---------- Post added at 10:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 AM ----------

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Originally Posted by K98kG43

Nice rifle! I too need to work on a k98 stock, I would try some stripper on a cloth in a small area where the finish is already bad. Just dont sand it or brush it hard, you dont want to lose the stamps. Oil it good when your done. Not sure what products work best but I have seen k98 stocks restored nice with no issues.

Yes as far as I know the handguard should be numbered to the gun, or not at all, I would have to dig out a couple books. But the Sling looks like an orignal, I have a couple from same maker on some rifles that were vet bring backs.

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Thank you. That is great news about the sling. I had never seen an original but this rifle came from the collection of military surplus dealer and if anyone would have had one, this gentleman would have it!

That doesn't look like rack wear to me.

The finish on the stock isn't original to my eyes, its looks like some sort of varnish finish, probably applied by the vet after he brought it back to make it look pretty.
The finish under it, which you are looking at in that 'worn' strip is the original stock finish.

Looks like the handguard is mismatched going by the photo's of the serial number are matching on one piece in a photo (I'm guessing the stock?) and doesn't match in the other, which I'm guessing is the handguard??

Sling is original. L&F is Linden & Funke KG, Iserlohn. Same maker as my original one on my Norwegian surrender K98k.

It is definitely rack wear. I saw the rifle in the rack and the wear mark corresponds to the rack. The M1A I purchased from the same rack/collection has the same mark corresponding to the rack. I know how to fix the M1A so no problem there.

Thank you sir! I think you have identified the problem. I compared this stock to the stock on my all-matching original AR41 and you appear to be correct. The key is the firing pin take down disc in the stock. I should have noticed it earlier. There appears to definitely be a coat of some type of varnish on the stock similar to what we see on Russian captures. That is why the rack mark exists since it rubbed off the varnish. I will contact the owner and recommend he let me strip the coating and then rehydrate the top layer with raw linseed oil. This is why I love this site - you get great information from some very knowledgeable people!

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Originally Posted by Singer B

It is definitely rack wear. I saw the rifle in the rack and the wear mark corresponds to the rack. The M1A I purchased from the same rack/collection has the same mark corresponding to the rack. I know how to fix the M1A so no problem there.

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Like I said, that glossy finish is not the original stock finish, its a post war applied oil or more likely varnish finish.
The rack has worn that away to the original finish underneath.
So, do you want to return all the stock to a wartime look or the post-war applied civilian look?

EDit: You've already answered this as I was typing - LOL!

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Originally Posted by GeeRam

Like I said, that glossy finish is not the original stock finish, its a post war applied oil or more likely varnish finish.
The rack has worn that away to the original finish underneath.
So, do you want to return all the stock to a wartime look or the post-war applied civilian look?

EDit: You've already answered this as I was typing - LOL!

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If the owner approves it, it will go back to original. After reading other threads here, I know the RLO will only have limited penetration due to the stock being a laminated construction. The other clue I missed was the glue color. My rifle has the red undertone from the red glue. This one, as a late war rifle, could have either red or white so it will be interesting to see which one it is once the varnish is stripped.

It's an early 'b' block code, so made in Jan/Feb '44, and likely has a late '43 made stock, made for J.P.Sauer by Haenel, as most were up until early 1944, after which the stocks for J.P Sauer were made for them by Mauser-Oberndorf.
You can tell its a Haenel made stock because it has the tell-tale smaller 25mm diameter take down disc on the butt, rather than 30mm used by most other makers.

Is the inside barrel channel of the stock dated?

This is stamped inside the stock.

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Originally Posted by Singer B

This is stamped inside the stock.

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Yep, Bn is the code for the laminate supplier for the stock, Sauer (or rather Haenel) appears to have changed laminate supplier in late 43, as most of the stocks from late '42 up to Nov 43 are coded Na.
The 2 48 43, is 2 day of the 48th week of 1943, so 30th November 1943, which fits with a Jan/Feb built rifle.

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Originally Posted by GeeRam

that glossy finish is not the original stock finish

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A cabinet scraper peels that off uniformly, without damaging the original color of the underlying wood. As far as what to do after that, it generally depends on the rifle. I'll use plain linseed oil if things already look pretty nice. Watco danish oil (dark) is in every hardware store and works well to blend in colors across a mottled or stained stock. Not trying to make it look new or newer again, just well maintained with normal service wear.

The varnish came off very easily. I used a lot of Qtips getting into the small areas. I decided to go with the BLO since the finish on my AR41 appears to be a little more durable than just RLO. First coat went on last night and the second will be applied when I get home from work. The stock does not appear to be sanded but I was disappointed that there were none of the usual stock stampings under all of that varnish. Had they stopped stamping the stocks by then?

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Originally Posted by Singer B

The stock does not appear to be sanded but I was disappointed that there were none of the usual stock stampings under all of that varnish. Had they stopped stamping the stocks by then?

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They did reduce stock stampings from '42 onwards, but didn't stop doing so.
For 43 and 44, there was the simple eagle H acceptance stamp for Heer on the butt side in normal place (not many were L or M stamped by then) as well as a J.P.Sauer e/WaA37 stamp on the underside edge of the butt by the heel.

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Originally Posted by GeeRam

They did reduce stock stampings from '42 onwards, but didn't stop doing so.
For 43 and 44, there was the simple eagle H acceptance stamp for Heer on the butt side in normal place (not many were L or M stamped by then) as well as a J.P.Sauer e/WaA37 stamp on the underside edge of the butt by the heel.

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I'll look again. If it was sanded, it had to have been very lightly since there is still a good edge around the buttplate.

Here are the "before" pictures....

And here are the "after" pictures.....this involved using Citristrip to remove the old varnish, no sanding, three coats of BLO with a 0000 steel wool rubdown after each coat. Unfortunately for the owner, he will have to revise his initial valuation down due to the non-matching front handguard and the refinished stock. Once stripped, the stock appeared to have been lightly sanded due to there being no proof marks or Wermacht markings found on it. It is still a beautiful gun and should bring the owner a good price when he sells it, especially with an original sling (which is in excellent condition). It truly makes you appreciate the all-matching guns when you find them.

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Originally Posted by Singer B

this involved using Citristrip to remove the old varnish, no sanding,

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Exactly...

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Originally Posted by Singer B

And here are the "after" pictures.....this involved using Citristrip to remove the old varnish, no sanding, three coats of BLO with a 0000 steel wool rubdown after each coat. Unfortunately for the owner, he will have to revise his initial valuation down due to the non-matching front handguard and the refinished stock. Once stripped, the stock appeared to have been lightly sanded due to there being no proof marks or Wermacht markings found on it. It is still a beautiful gun and should bring the owner a good price when he sells it, especially with an original sling (which is in excellent condition). It truly makes you appreciate the all-matching guns when you find them.

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Looks much better.
Shame about the sanded stock removing the acceptance stamps, but not uncommon from the days when these could be bought for $30 and making it look nice was more important that preserving its history.